All I know is if its continually applied like it was against Vandy, this could be a really annoying year. What is the defense supposed to to? Walk up slowly and ask the offensive player to take a knee?

COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFFICIATING, LLC TARGETING AND CROWN-OF-HELMET OFFICIATING GUIDELINES RULES Targeting/Initiating Contact With the Crown of the Helmet (Rule 9-1-3) No player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul. (Rule 9-6.) Defenseless Player: Contact to Head or Neck Area (Rule 9-1-4) No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, elbow or shoulder. When in question, it is a foul (Rules 2-27-14 and 9-6). KEY ELEMENTS Targeting

—taking aim at an opponent with an apparent intent that goes beyond making a good football play. Crown of the Helmet

—the top portion of the helmet. Contact to the head or neck area

—even if not with the helmet, it still could be a foul. Defenseless player
—a player not in position to defend himself. Examples (Rule 2-27-14):  Pass receiver or kick receiver concentrating on the ball before or just as it arrives.  Pass receiver or kick receiver who has just caught the ball and has not had time to do something common to the game.  Quarterback in the act of passing.  Any player who is blind-sided.  A player obviously out of the play. KEY INDICATORS Risk of a foul is high with one or more of these:  Launch—a player leaves his feet to contact an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body, making contact in the head/neck area  Leading with forearm, fist, hand or elbow to the head/neck area  Lowering the head before initiating contact to the head/neck area of a defenseless player These indicate less risk of a foul:  Heads-up tackle  Wrap-up tackle HINTS FOR PLAYERS  Don't lead with your head Don’t go for the head/neck area

Wow, talk about a subjective explanation. How is an official supposed to digest all that and apply it fairly in full-speed game situations?

If it really just boils down to not leading with the crown of the helmet and not initiating contact with the head/neck area, then OK. I hope that is the way the rule is applied. I see a lot of language in there that gives officials a pretty wide brush to paint with, though, and it will be interesting to see how this thing evolves.

Pass receiver or kick receiver concentrating on the ball before or just as it arrives.
Pass receiver or kick receiver who has just caught the ball and has not had time to do something common to the game.
Quarterback in the act of passing.

So stupid. The defense is supposed to wait until a receiver has fully gained control of the ball before they can make contact?